ABOUT FORBIDDEN FRUIT WINERY

Taking a bite from the tree of knowledge has never been more exciting. Proprietors Steve Venables and Kim Brind’Amour claim they live in a “Garden of Eden”. The family operated boutique winery is located just 15 minutes west of Osoyoos and 15 minutes south of Keremeos, in Cawston, British Columbia, “The Organic Capital of Canada”. Paradise on Earth is what they call where they live and what they do. The couple’s commitment to organic farming started in 1977. They took a piece of virgin land along the pristine Similkameen River and created Ven’Amour Organics, a certified organic 32 acre orchard/vineyard within a 142 acre nature estate with desert steppe and old growth riparian forest.

The farm produces and sells over sixty varieties of exotic tree fruits and grapes while partnering with “The Land Conservancy of B.C.” to preserve the non planted acreage as unique wildlife and natural habitat. They decided to open Forbidden Fruit Winery in 2004 because of their love of wine, a desire to continue to provide sustainable food, and to help supplement their small family run farm. The on-site tasting room showcases stunning pieces of art created by owner Kim Brind’Amour, seasonal organic fruit, the wines and an outdoor licensed picnic area overlooking the breathtaking Similkameen wildlife corridor. The winery uses the farm’s fruit that is carefully grown for flavour and maturity. The juice is handcrafted with eco-friendly production practices and sensitive processing methods that help maintain natural taste and key nutrients such as flavonoids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and tannins. The result is fruit turned into small lots of luscious, high quality, award winning wines guaranteed to please the palate.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Today, the winery produces over 15 wines that have garnered over 175 awards in the last 7 years. The fruit wine portfolio consist of several off dry table wines such as the famous Pearsuasion , a Double Gold medal recipient at the 2012 All Canadian Wine Championship. The stunning dessert wines include the Crushed Innocence White Peach, Impearfection Asian Pear and their most highly awarded fruit wine, “Pomme Desiree Iced Apple” winning the prestigious Mt. Fairweather Award “Best of Region for all of British Columbia” at the Northwest Wine Summit Competition in Mt. Hood Oregon in 2009. The fortified wines are a foursome that include the lovely Caught Apricot Mistelle garnering a Platinum Gold Medal at the Wine Press Northwest an exclusive gold medal winner competition. The wine portfolio continues with the recent addition of the “Earth Series” premium grape wines. All made from certified organic grapes, this series is dedicated to raising funds for sustainability on earth initiatives. The whites include the SauVidal, a beautiful blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Vidal grapes, a Pinot Gris and a Sauvignon Blanc, awarded Double Gold in 2012 at the All Canadian Wine Championship. The reds include a Merlot, and a CabernetSauvignon awarded “Best of show at the Okanagan “Battle of the Benches” competition in 2012.

“Big and Bold, proof that what is arguably B.C’s best fruit winery, has the same deft touch with grapes.” Jurgen Gothe, Georgia Straight

“Iced Apple wines have taken top honours two years in a row: this one is from fruit grown in B.C.’s Similkameen Valley. Forbidden Fruit has been growing a range of organic fruits for 30 years. This golden nectar has wonderful pure apple expression, elegantly wrapped in subtle caramel notes. The sweetness is beautifully balanced.” Canadian Wine Awards, Wine Access Magazine

“As I discovered in tasting the current releases from Forbidden Fruit Winery- two grape wines and a range of fruit wines. Tasting these wines was a great sensory experience…. Steve and Kim produce the wines to the same high standards as their fresh fruit. The evidence is in the winery’s consistent record of awards.” John Schreiner, Author of The Wineries of British Columbia